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Overview
DORSEY’S CLIENTS TAKE COMPLIANCE SERIOUSLY, AND RYAN HELPS THEM ACHIEVE THAT OBJECTIVE. IF LITIGATION IS NECESSARY DESPITE OUR CLIENTS’ BEST EFFORTS, RYAN IS HONORED TO DEFEND THEM.
Ryan leads Dorsey’s national Labor & Employment practice group. For two decades, Ryan has counseled corporate clients and HR professionals on wage & hour issues; non-competition, non-solicitation and other restrictive covenants; employee and independent contractor classification; hiring, discipline and termination; executive employment agreements; compensation plans; reductions in force; employee investigations; HR policies and M&A transactions.
Known for combining practical wisdom and efficiency with a vigorous approach to litigation, Ryan also has a successful track record of defending employers in complex and single plaintiff cases in federal and state courts, and arbitration. His litigation practice involves defense of Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage and hour actions; claims involving non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements; race, age, sex and disability discrimination suits; whistleblower and retaliation claims; and cases involving claims for breach of employment contracts and fiduciary duties. He has extensive experience representing clients in class and collective actions, as well as in appellate proceedings.
Ryan brings his expertise to bear for clients in many industries, including banks, food and agribusiness companies, technology companies, telecommunications companies, financial service firms, medical providers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers.
Education & Admissions
University of Iowa College of Law (J.D., 2001), With Highest Distinction; Order of the Coif; Executive Editor, Iowa Law Review, Vol. 86
Luther College (B.A., Major: Political Science; Minors: Economics, Communication, 1998), summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions
- Minnesota
- Iowa
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
Clerkships
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, Honorable Donald P. Lay, 2001-2002
Experience
Client Achievements
Representative Litigation
- Successfully defended Abbott in lawsuit by former sales executive alleging age and gender discrimination and retaliation. (Ramsey County, Minnesota, 2023)
- Defended Radisson Hotels in lawsuit by former human resources executive alleging violation of the Minnesota Whistleblower Act and constructive discharge.(Hennepin County, Minnesota, 2022)
- Represented international logistics company in U.S. Department of Labor investigation involving class-based regular rate, unpaid overtime and joint employer allegations. (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022)
- Defended Ameriprise Financial Services in California PAGA lawsuit claiming franchisee Financial Advisors were misclassified as independent contractors under the California Labor Code.Plaintiff challenged the constitutionality of the “investment advisor” exemption to the “ABC test” under AB-5, raising multiple novel questions under California law, including whether Ameriprise had constitutional standing to defend the constitutional validity of Labor Code provisions, whether Plaintiff had authority to maintain a constitutional challenge to the Labor Code in his capacity as a PAGA plaintiff, and whether the legislature’s exemptions to the ABC test, and the retroactivity of those exemptions under AB-5, withstood rational basis scrutiny.Motion for summary adjudication granted, after which Plaintiff dismissed the case.Quinn v. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., (Alameda County Superior Court, 2021)
- Defended Jostens, Inc. in putative nationwide collective action alleging unpaid pre- and post-shift work by factory personnel.Following aggressive initial investigation and an evidentiary presentation to plaintiff’s counsel that showed the invalidity of the plaintiff’s claims, case resolved favorably on an individual basis.Barry Reaves v. Jostens, Inc. (M.D. Tenn. 2021)
- Defended national technology company in California wage and hour cases alleging unpaid pre- and post-shift work, improper meal and rest breaks, improper business expense reimbursements, and failure to pay final pay in compliance with California law.Plaintiffs also asserted PAGA violations.(L.A. County Superior Court & Santa Clara County Superior Court, 2021)
- Defended regional property management company against claims alleging co-worker sexual assault, sexual harassment, negligent retention and supervision, reprisal and negligent infliction of emotional distress, as well as unpaid wages.(Minnesota, 2022)
- Defended national industrial conglomerate in lawsuit alleging sexual assault by an employee during a commercial flight.(Ramsey County, 2022)
- Defended XPO and subsidiary entity in national FLSA collective action alleging misclassification of supervisors. Case resolved favorably following aggressive effort to obtain declarations from putative opt-in plaintiffs to demonstrate the invalidity of plaintiff’s claims. Successfully opposed sanctions motion related to declaration initiative, resulting in award of attorneys’ fees against plaintiff. Lo v. XPO (N.D. Texas, 2020)
- Successfully resolved multiple Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act On behalf of the Minnesota Employment Law Council, Ryan drafts legislation, advises advocates and legislators and testifies as an expert on employment law matters on legislation of interest to Minnesota job creators.
News & Resources
Articles
April 25, 2024
October 6, 2021
March 12, 2021
January 4, 2021
November 12, 2020
March 27, 2020
May 21, 2018
September 20, 2017
February 1, 2017
January 13, 2017
November 23, 2016
September 22, 2016
May 27, 2016
May 18, 2016
March 13, 2015
May 12, 2014
March 10, 2014
January 17, 2013
News & Press Mentions
August 15, 2024
August 17, 2023
February 22, 2023
October 1, 2021
June 24, 2021
October 14, 2020
September 30, 2019
April 25, 2019
April 25, 2019
November 12, 2018
August 15, 2018
August 15, 2017
Events & Speaking Engagements
August 15, 2024
August 3, 2023
August 18, 2022
April 15, 2021
April 22, 2020
April 11, 2019
May 7, 2018
May 3, 2018
May 10, 2017
May 10, 2017
Legal Writings
Select Book Chapters
- Contacting References, MinnCLE Job Applicant Screening: A Practice Guide (2014)
- Independent Contractors, MinnCLE The Ongoing Business Deskbook (2012)
- To Pay Or Not To Pay: Identifying and Counting Compensable Work Time Under Wage & Hour Laws, MinnCLE Wage and Hour Handbook: Federal and Minnesota (2011)
Select Presentations
- “Compensable Work Time Under the FLSA and State Wage and Hour Laws,” Federal and Minnesota Wage and Hour Law, Minnesota CLE, August 15, 2023
- "2018 Wage and Hour Update: Trending Topics and Challenges," Labor and Employment Symposium, Dorsey & Whitney, May 7, 2018
- "Annual Construction Symposium," Dorsey & Whitney, May 2018
- #youtoo: Why the Construction Industry Needs to Focus on Sexual Harassment
- "The First Year: Answering Client Questions About the Impact of the New Administration – Employment Law," Minnesota CLE, January 23, 2018
- "The First 100 Days: Answering Client Questions about the Impact of the New Administration," Minnesota CLE, May 3, 2017
- “Independent Contractors – Risks, Benefits & Best Practices,” Minnesota CLE, February 2017
- “Labor & Employment Challenges for Farmer Cooperatives,” NCFC Annual Conference, February 2017
- "The Evolving World of Employee Leave: How States and Cities are Filling the Gaps Left by the FMLA," MinnCLE webinar, July 8, 2016
- "Who Is the Employer?: Dealing With Misclassification and Co-Employment Risks In the Modern Workplace," Crossroads HR Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, September 22, 2015
- "Hiring Processes and Employment Polices," Best Practices for Protecting Our Children Conference, Shattuck St. Mary’s School, Faribault, MN, September 15, 2015
- “The Perils of Multistate Employment: Avoiding State Law Wage & Hour Traps In California and Beyond,” 2015 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 2015
- “Independent Contractor or Employee? Warning Signs and Best Practices to Avoid Misclassification,” MinnCLE Representing the Ongoing Business CLE, January 2015
- “Employment Law Series: How to Respond to the New Minnesota Women’s Economic Security Act,” MinnCLE webinar, October 2014
- “FLSA Emerging Trends, Cases and Analysis,” panel participant, 2014 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 2014
- “Independent Contractor or Employee? Warning Signs and Best Practices to Avoid Misclassification,” MinnCLE Closely Held Business CLE, October 2013
- “Case Studies – The Jokester, the Gossip, the Bad Attitude: How To Move A Difficult Employee From Problematic To Productive,” panel moderator, MinnCLE, August 2013
- “Employment Law Series: FLSA Claims – Settlement and Release Considerations,” MinnCLE webinar, October 2012
- “Independent Contractor or Employee? Warning Signs and Best Practices to Avoid Misclassification,” MinnCLE Representing the Ongoing Business CLE, October 2012
- “The Contingent Workforce and Alternate Staffing Models – In House Counsel Perspectives,” panel moderator, 2012 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 2012
- “Are They Really Independent Contractors? Enforcement Trends and Best Practices to Avoid Misclassification,” 2012 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 2012
- “To Pay Or Not To Pay: Identifying and Counting Compensable Work Time Under Wage & Hour Laws,” MinnCLE Wage & Hour program, March 2012
Industries & Practices
Banking & Financial Institutions
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceFood, Beverage & Agribusiness
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceHealthcare & Life Sciences
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceHigher Education & Academic Research Institutions
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practice- Appellate
- Banking & Financial Institutions
- Class Action Litigation
- Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Higher Education & Academic Research Institutions
- Labor & Employment
Accolades
- Named one of “America’s Leading Business Lawyers” by Chambers USA (Labor & Employment), 2018-2024
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America©, 2018-2025
- Listed in Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2020-2024
- Contributed more than 50 Challenge pro bono hours, 2020, 2022
- Recognized as a "Labor & Employment Star – Minnesota" by Benchmark Litigation, 2021-2022
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America Employment Law Issue, 2021
- MSBA North Star Lawyer, 2013 and 2020-2023
- Named "Up and Coming" by Chambers USA (Labor & Employment), 2015-2017
- Listed as a "Rising Star" by Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2011-2016
